An untamed man as immovable as a Highland mountain…
Fergus Mackinnon, autocratic Laird of Achnasheen, likes to be in charge. When he was little more than a lad, he became master of his Scottish estate, and he’s learned to rely on his unfailing judgment. So has everyone else in his corner of the world. He sees no reason for his bride—when he finds her—to be any different.

A headstrong woman from the warm and passionate south…
Marina Lucchetti knows all about fighting her way through a wall of masculine arrogance. In her native Florence, she’s become a successful artist, no easy feat for a woman. Now a commission to paint a series of Highland scenes promises to spread her fame far and wide. When a carriage accident strands her at Achnasheen for a few weeks, it’s a mixed blessing. The magnificent landscape offers everything her artistic soul could desire. If only she can resist the impulse to smash her easel across the laird’s obstinate head.

When two fiery souls come together, a conflagration flares.
Marina is Fergus’s worst nightmare—a woman who defies a man’s guidance. Fergus challenges everything Marina believes about a woman’s right to choose her path. No two people could be less suited. But when irresistible passion enters the equation, good sense soon jumps into the loch.

Will the desire between Fergus and Marina blaze hot, then fade to ashes? Or will the imperious laird and his willful lass discover that their differences aren’t insurmountable after all, but the spice that will flavor a lifetime of happiness?

This is my new full-length story, The Laird’s Willful Lass. This is the first in a new series called The Likely Lairds, featuring Highland heroes and the unsuitable women they fall in love with. Over the next two years, the plan is to do three full length stories and two Christmas novellas.

The heroes of the full-length stories, The Laird’s Willful Lass, The Laird’s Lost Lady, and The Laird’s English Bride have very set ideas about what they want in a wife – what a pity fate has other plans for all of them. First to have his expectations confounded is handsome Laird of Achnasheen, Fergus Mackinnon.

Masterful Fergus is used to calling the shots with everyone, and that includes the women in his life. So what is he to do when independent half-Italian artist Marina Lucchetti falls into his clutches, yet refuses to accept his infallible masculine authority? It’s enough to drive a red-blooded laird mad. Especially when the minute he sees her, he wants her.

I love romances where people have everything planned out, then destiny steps in and changes the course of their lives. Destiny and love! Although it takes the stubborn laird and his equally stubborn lady in my new story more time than it should to recognize that fact. I hope you have fun reading The Laird’s Willful Lass. I sure had fun writing it!

This short excerpt takes place on Marina’s first night in Fergus’s castle in the Scottish Highlands. After the carriage accident that broke her father’s leg, she is stuck at Achnasheen until he’s able to walk again. Marina is already wary of her host, chief of Clan Mackinnon, not just because his managing attitude makes her hackles rise, but because she’s fighting an immediate and powerful attraction to the dashing Scot.

The Mackinnon rose and crossed to lift a decanter from the sideboard. “I hope you don’t mind dining with me. I realize it’s not strictly proper for us to be alone, but we’re not so finicky about the rules of society here in the Highlands as they are down in London. If you’d rather, I can have a tray sent to your room. Or I could ask one of the maids to sit with us if you’d like a chaperone. But it’s a pity to waste the chance for some interesting conversation, when I get so few visitors at Achnasheen.”

Another compliment, and one for Marina’s mind, not for her looks. Accompanied by something that could almost be an apology for assuming she’d join him for dinner without checking with her first.

It became more and more difficult to recall how he’d barked orders to her down by the bridge. Diavolo, this charm was dangerous. Already she knew she’d be sensible to avoid his company. He wasn’t at all her sort of gentleman. And he’d given her a perfect excuse to say her goodnights.

She stayed exactly where she was. “We’re not so careful in Italy either, especially as I’m neither an aristocrat nor just out of the schoolroom. I think my reputation will survive a meal with you.”

“I’m delighted to hear that.” The warmth in his eyes lit an answering warmth in her blood. “Would ye like a wee glass of wine?”

“Yes, please.”

He poured two glasses of claret. “So what is a pretty half-Italian lady doing in wildest Scotland?”

“Shivering,” she said, accepting her wine. She really must tell him not to waste any more time on compliments. They never worked with her. Well, they usually never worked. “I’d lay good money our coachman was lost when we crashed. We’re supposed to be on our way to the Isle of Skye.”

The Mackinnon sat down beside her again, stretching his long legs out toward the fire. Marina was painfully conscious that mere inches of blue velvet separated them. One subtle shift, and their hips would brush.

The thought tightened her throat. Down by the bridge, he’d touched her, slinging her around like a piece of furniture, and she’d wanted to slap him. When had that changed?

He raised his glass. “Slàinte mhath.”

“Salute.” She returned his toast, then sipped the wine, which turned out to be excellent. What else did she expect? She had a feeling the Mackinnon arranged everything here to suit himself.

Anna is giving away a Kindle copy of The Laird’s Willful Lass

For a chance to win, comment with your answer to this question…

If you were having dinner with a roguish Scottish laird, what would you like to be on the menu?

Anna wants to be hungry by the time she’s finished reading your answers!

~~Reviewed by Lisa~~

How wonderful! We have two strong willed, confident and poised people looking for, and finding, love without knowing it. They drive each other crazy with their dictatorial assertiveness, which turns into, “Me thinks thou dost protest too much.” Watching them each learn the art of compromise was charming! I completely enjoyed this story. Once again, Ms. Campbell brings us characters that we can get behind, cheer for and enjoy.

Marina Lucchetti has worked so very hard to gain the position she has in the art world. She is convinced that there is only one way to have what she has fought so hard for…a loveless life. She is spirited and yet underneath very vulnerable. It is this vulnerability that Ms. Campbell brings out and allows to shine. Marina is a beautiful mix of all things woman.

Fergus Mackinnon has overseen his clan since he was nine years old and has a rather warped idea of women. He believes that women should be biddable and willing to take direction, HIS. His sisters and all the women of the clan have always shown deference to him and along comes Marina. She is NOT having it. The charming characteristic of Fergus is his desire to protect the women in his world. This leads to his world being tossed head over heels by Marina.

This is the first in a new series by Anna Campbell. We meet the other two Lairds in the prologue and I am anxious to meet them in more detail. Each of them told us their ideas of women when they were all young. I am excited to see how Ms. Campbell upends each of the other men and the strong women she brings to them. I also enjoyed that this was a full-length novel and not a novella. More chance to flesh out the characters and their journey. Well done!

Rating:

About Anna Campbell

Anna Campbell has written ten multi award-winning historical romances for Grand Central Publishing and Avon HarperCollins, and her work is published in seventeen languages. Anna has won numerous awards for her Regency-set stories including Romantic Times Reviewers Choice, the Booksellers Best, the Golden Quill (three times), the Heart of Excellence (twice), the Write Touch, the Aspen Gold (twice) and the Australian Romance Readers Association’s favorite historical romance (five times). She lives on the beautiful east coast of Australia where she writes full-time.

Comments

First I want to say Anna congratulations, it sounds like an exciting read.
For supper I think maybe a nice leg of lamb with some parsley roasted, butter potatoes, and possibly some candied carrots, and fresh sourdough bread. For dessert maybe a nice rice pudding or some type of bread pudding.
I hope this got your mouth watering.

Congratulations on your release!!! Hmmm That would depend, If it was now, I would say a nice ribeye steak, potatoes and salad with chocolate cake as dessert! If it was in his time I would say some braised beef, potatoes and a nice pudding. I really would not care what we ate as long as I could talk to him and probably stare!! lol

Hooray, Anna! What a great peek! As to dinner, maybe some kind of pot pie and mashed potatoes–I’ve always loved them as comfort foods, with the creamy filling going well with the slightly crisp crust, and then one can never go wrong with mashed potatoes! And maybe a custard for dessert…

Hi Anna!
Congratulations on your new release ! A tray of cheese and fruit served with a wonderful wine. For dinner roasted venison, braised potatoes and plenty of fresh baked bread. Oh and some excellent conversation of course.